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Why does my car hesitate when accelerating at low speed?
Lately, my 2013 Chevy Silverado does this weird lag thing when I hit the gas. It seems to drive ok once it’s going, but what would make it hesitate when accelerating at low speed?
Lynell Spencer · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
If your car hesitates when accelerating at low speed, you likely have a lean air to fuel mixture. A lean air to fuel mixture means that the gas getting to your engine doesn’t have the correct mix of fuel and air. Here is where to start looking for problems:
- The mass airflow sensor measures how much air is coming into the engine to deliver the right amount of fuel from the fuel injectors.
- The fuel pump pumps fuel up to the engine. If it is faulty, your fuel pump may not create enough pressure to get the fuel to the engine.
- The throttle position sensor tells your car’s computer how far the throttle is open and how hard the accelerator is being pressed. If it isn’t working correctly, it can send the wrong information causing an incorrect amount of air while accelerating.
- Fuel injectors may become dirty over time and not be able to provide as much fuel to the cylinder as it needs, causing hesitation when accelerating.
Your next step is to schedule an appointment with your mechanic. It can be stressful when your vehicle
starts acting up
. Hopefully, you are dealing with something that is an easy fix.While your
mechanic
is working on your car, take a minute to work on your car insurance
with Jerry
. Just download the app and answer a few questions, and Jerry will find quotes from top agencies.Jerry customers save on average $800+ per year on car insurance when they switch, so what do you have to lose?
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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